Complete List of Toyota RAV4 Recalls 2002-2011

Ah, the Toyota RAV4…the original “cute-ute”. Originally introduced in 1994, it made its way to America in 1996, and changed the SUV landscape forever. During the time of Slick Willie and cheap gas, it nonetheless found its place in the automotive world, and prompted every other mainstream automaker to come out with its own version of. This is true even to this day, but now with luxury automakers taking a stab at it.

While other car companies have rolled out some great metal in the way of the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and the Suzuki Vitara/Grand Vitara (currently the only RWD CUV on the market), the RAV4 has stagnated since it’s last major redesign back in 2006. Why Toyota would let their little CUV languish like it was Ford circa 2000 is beyond me to figure out. Sales have reflected in this, tumbling some 38,000 plus units from 2010-2011.

Anyways, just like all of the others, I’ll be focusing on the past 10 complete model years, since that’s where the bulk of the recalls originate. As always, if you see your vehicle on here, be sure to call your local Toyota dealer and provide them with your VIN (ask for the service department).

So, with that in mind, onward with the list of Toyota RAV4 recalls…

2002-2004 RAV4: No recalls to report, as of now.

2005 RAV4: Some air bag inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag.

2006-2010 RAV4: Improperly-secured optional-accessory floor mat could cause accelerator pedal to become stuck, temporarily, in partially depressed position. The dealer will make adjustments to the accelerator and replace the floormats as needed.

2007-2008 RAV4: In these particular model year RAV4s, they have what’s called a Curtain Shield Airbag (CSA) system, Toyota-speak for side curtain airbags that generally run along the roof of the inside of the vehicle, from the A-pillars to the D-pillars. They are designed to protect the head and torso in the event of an side collision. In this CSA, there are two sensors that are designed to detect vehicle roll angle…so if the vehicle decides to roll and at least one or more of the wheels leave the ground, then the sensors will detect this and activate the airbags. If one of the sensors malfunctions, then the airbag warning light (Malfunction Indicator Light: MIL) will come on, and the roll detection system will be suspended…if both of the sensors malfunctions right after the initial airbag check, then the CSA and seat belt pretensioner could be inadvertently activated. This could result in injury to either the driver, passengers, or both. The Toyota dealers will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one containing improved roll rate sensors, free of charge.

2009-2010 RAV4: Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal, which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly.

2011 RAV4: in certain vehicles equipped with the CSA, they may contain propellant with the improper specification that was used for the initiator assembled in the airbag inflator. In this condition, the inflator may not deploy properly, causing one or both airbags to not deploy. This could increase the risk of injury to both the driver and any passengers in the vehicle, in the event of a crash. Dealers will notify owners based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), and replace the assemblies free of charge.